Prof Osita Ogbu, Hon Dennis Agbo, Extol Governor Mbah Over Sterling Leadership

By Emma Onyishi

Nsukka -------- Former Economic Adviser to ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Osita Ogbu, has commended the Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, over his proactive and sterling leadership of the state.

This was even as the member representing Igboeze/ Udenu in the House of Representatives, Hon Dennis Agbo, has also, described Mbah as a performing governor, who is not interested in engaging in frivolities.

Agbo, who recently defected from the Labour Party to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, said Enugu North has benefitted alot from Mbah following his construction of Smart Schools and Type- Three health centres across the 260 wards in the state.

Both Prof Ogbu and Hon Agbo spoke at the Dialogue Series 1, organized by the Enugu State Coalition for Progress, Enugu North Senatorial Zone chapter at Adada Hall, Nsukka on Friday, noting that Enugu State was currently the “highest spender on Education.”

The event was moderated by the Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area, Chief Aka -Eze Aka, and attended by other serving and former chairmen in the zone.

According to Ogbu, Mbah, was like earlier Israeli and American presidents who planned big and wished to transform their countries by thinking ahead for the advancement of their societies. 

"Governor Mbah said, whether you voted for me or not, I will develop the state. I will wean Enugu State from its dependence on Federation Account.

“We are among the three states in the country that can say bye bye to Federal Allocation," he added.

Ogbu further stressed that Mbah, in his developmental transformation of the state, does not discriminate between those that voted for him and those that did not because he saw Enugu State as his constituency.

The renowned economist further noted that Mbah had not only set goals for himself in the state but was committed to achieving them, pointing out that he was turning Enugu from a civil service state to an entrepreneurial state through the provision of structures and industries that would bring about transformation just as he had put in place, strategies to strengthen the state’s economic base instead of relying solely on federal allocations.

He likened Mbah to world leaders like the former Chinese, Malaysian and Israeli leaders who dutifully transformed their country without looking at hindrances and obstacles with his philosophy of "Tomorrow is Here," mantra.

According to him, Mbah’s “Tomorrow is Here,” mantra is a philosophy aimed at development and transformation by thinking out of the box and called on the local government chairmen in the state to key into the philosophy to ensure rapid development of the state. 

“Tomorrow is Here means not looking at the rear mirror in order to move forward. Tomorrow is Here is also for the local government chairmen. While the governor is working, the local government chairmen should as well be working. Tomorrow is Here is for all the three tiers of government,” he further added.

In his contribution, the member representing Igboeze/ Udenu in the National Assembly, Hon Agbo noted that when allocations are done based on number of wards, Enugu North Senatorial Zone will get the highest because it has the highest wards with 102 in the state.

Contributing also, Prof Simon Ortuanya stated that Enugu state which was ordinarily a civil service state had been turned into an industrial hub by the governor within a short time.

“Enugu State is among the three states in the country that can say bye to Federal allocation. Tourism is begging to return to Enugu. Mbah is building an entrepreneur state,” he added.

Also, the Coordinator of Enugu North Senatorial Zonal chapter of the coalition, Dr. Chinedu Onuh, stressed that the era of politics was over as now was the time for development. Onuh further said that the zone was determined to join hands with the governor in his development strategy.

“We have decided as a people to play developmental politics. Nsukka are united in our loyalty. When he came with the mantra, Tomorrow is Here, we did not understand it but today we understand it,” Onuh added.

Another Resource Person, General Victor Ezugwu rtd, commended Governor Mbah for his commitment to ensuring security in the state, and urged the local government chairmen not to leave security to the governor alone but to do their own bit in order to ensure that the state was secured.

Ezugwu expressed happiness that Governor Mbah had started the implementation of the things some retired stakeholders in the security sub-sector from Enugu North had proposed to him,.noting that the governor had a listening ear. He further said that Mbah had promised to increase the salaries of some local security operatives like the Neighbourhood Watch group among others.

“I assure you that a lot is being done to address the security issues in Uzo- Uwani and Isi-Uzo areas and I urge people to support the government. I am happy that the governor has brought technology in the fight against insecurity,” he further said.

The event with the theme: “His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah Administration–The Journey So far,” attracted the "Who is Who," in the zone including the former Secretary to the State Government, Prof Simon Ortuanya, an elder statesman, Chief Maxi Ukuta, Chief Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Chief Vita Abba and Dr Dan Shere among several others.